For the very first time since its launch back in the mists of 1985, television’s Saturday night staple, Blind Date, will play host to a full drag lineup of singletons seeking the perfect match.

Host Paul O’Grady, himself no stranger to the drag scene with his infamous Lily Savage alter ego, will play cupid to gay criminologist Luke, investigating clues to find the one. However, unbeknownst to Luke, his three potential beaus will consist of Shyanne O’Shea, Trampagne and Anna Phylactic. Handily, the queens will be referred to as Contestants One through Three, because if Paul introduced them by name, we think the jig would more than likely be up.

Shamefully, O’Grady will not be hosting as Lily, but will wear a huge leopardskin coat in the character’s honour (bit of a cop out there). He told the press, “I’m so happy that we have included drag queens on this series of Blind Date. It’s about time – it is 2018 after all. Having been a drag artiste myself, I’m very proud.” But, again, he’ll still only wear a leopardskin coat.

Slightly more surprisingly, Blind Date actually only had it’s first openly gay contestant ever in January of this year. It is 2018 after all! In that case, it was Joni, the 2016 winner of Mr Gay UK who got a quick reminder from our Graham before choosing sporty rower Alex.

In an episode that turned out to be a little bluer than usual, Joni asked the contestants “If we were to get married, what would the theme of the wedding be?” His eventual choice replied “I’m a member of a rowing club, so our wedding theme would be riverside. We’d both wear lycra and let the cox hold our rings.”

You wouldn’t get that back in Cilla’s day.

Just in case our straight mates were thinking they had a monopoly on embarrassing themselves on television in the hopes of finding a soulmate, First Dates Ireland recently made a call out for queer contestants.

Swallow that pride and get on those screens, folks.